Chapter 61

Seojin reached out and brushed Haji’s lips. Soon, a sticky piece of popcorn fell off.

“Last time it was a squirrel, and now it’s a rabbit……?”

“Because you resemble them.”

Those cute things.

Haji frowned at Seojin’s silent treatment of his inner thoughts.

“You do see me as a person, right?”

“Of course.”

Seojin replied with a relaxed smile. At his words, Haji narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

Her misunderstanding alone made him want to provoke her more.

“Want to buy more? We can still look around.”

“Look around……”

“There’s still some time left.”

Haji’s face was turning red at Seojin’s indifferent expression. She was clearly upset at the thought of being seen as an animal.

“……No need.”

Thud, Haji put down the popcorn bucket she was holding with a bang and turned her head sharply. When Seojin tried to peek into the popcorn bucket, Haji quickly covered the hole with her palm.

“You’re not going to eat it, are you?”

“I might eat it.”

“You said you don’t like sweet things?”

Seojin suppressed the smile that threatened to rise at Haji’s ironclad defense.

“I don’t dislike them that much.”

“…… Now you say that?”

Haji’s voice lost confidence in response to Seojin’s unwavering reply.

“Yeah, now I do.”

With Seojin’s firm answer, Haji rolled her eyes. In that moment, Seojin snatched the popcorn bucket.

“Huh?”

“It’s all gone?”

When Seojin held out the popcorn bucket that slipped from Haji’s hand, he felt a sense of satisfaction.

The contrast between Seojin, who was excited to find something to tease about, and Haji, who frowned in dismay, was stark.

How should I tease her?

As Seojin was lost in thought, excited about teasing, Haji pursed her lips and glared at him.

“You ate it all……”

Before Seojin could finish, Haji stretched out her hand. Towards Seojin’s lips.

“Mm?”

“Be quiet. The movie’s about to start. Shh.”

Her expression was flawless, as if she hadn’t grabbed his lips with her thumb and forefinger out of annoyance.

Thus, the day passed peacefully for the two of them.

***

A fork’s sharpness dug into the whipped cream topped with strawberries. Haji’s expression was not bright as she chewed a bite of sweet cake.

“Your husband—I mean, Seojin—doesn’t do it?”

Jinkyung, the mother of the child next door, had become like a sister to Haji.

And she learned that Haji and Seojin were not married but in a relationship.

“No……”

“He didn’t seem like that though?”

Jinkyung’s face turned serious at the shadow over Haji’s face.

It had become routine for Haji to chat at Jinkyung’s bakery once a week at most, or once every two weeks at least.

In the midst of chatting as usual, a 19+ topic came up, and Haji’s worries were revealed.

“Even if you’re not a couple with kids, if you’re in a relationship and don’t do it, isn’t that a problem?”

“Right? You think so too, right?”

“Of course! Young and healthy man and woman living in the same house! Doesn’t it not make sense that nothing happens?”

Haji nodded vigorously in agreement with Jinkyung’s angry voice.

It was her biggest concern in her relationship with Seojin recently. The fact that nothing happened even though they slept in the same bed.

“Do you remember when was the last time?”

“That was……”

She remembered. The day she found her memory.

The day she clung to Seojin in the bathroom, crying out.

“A week ago?”

“No.”

“Two weeks?”

“No.”

“Three weeks……?”

Haji shook her head. Jinkyung’s face went beyond surprise to near shock.

“Could it be a month?”

“Almost, yes……”

It was nearly a month.

“Is there some problem?”

“A problem?”

“You said Seojin is busy with work? They say when men get busy, that becomes difficult too?”

“That’s true……”

Haji blinked at the new information and thought of Seojin.

Although his recent busy work had been concluded, ever since the youth housing complex was broadcast and reported, many places sought him out. Previously, he was 100% focused on the site, but now he was busy with interviews and promotions.

“Is it because of that?”

That he can’t do it?

“I know a good place for eel juice. Want me to introduce you?”

“Eel juice?”

It probably doesn’t taste good……

Haji hesitated for a moment but then nodded, her eyes sparkling.

Does taste matter!? That’s not what’s important right now!

“Please let me know.”

Jinkyung seemed ready to help in every way. She even gave Haji a phone number, offering encouragement that things would get better.

As Haji made a big decision, Jinkyung leaned in as if to share a secret.

“How about an event?”

“An event?”

“You know, something guys like. Like a lingerie event?”

Haji blinked, not understanding, and Jinkyung shook her head slightly.

“You don’t know much about that side. Look, like this.”

The lingerie Jinkyung showed on her phone was unlike any Haji had known. The design was something she’d never seen before and seemed unlikely to serve its function. It was just bewildering.

“This……”

Gulp, Haji swallowed hard. She didn’t know what to say, so she couldn’t continue.

“Who wears this?”

“You’ll be wearing it soon.”

“Me?”

When Haji pointed at her face with her fingertip, Jinkyung nodded with a smile.

“Will he really like this?”

It was doubtful. 

Why?

“Think about it, does Seojin have a favorite animal?”

“A favorite animal……”

“Even if he doesn’t like them, something he looks at for a long time?”

A rabbit?

She recalled how Seojin had compared her to a rabbit at the movie theater not long ago.

She thought of the times he’d treated her like a herbivore.

While she was lost in thought, Jinkyung’s words reached her.

“That’s his preference.”

“Preference?”

“Like bedroom preferences.”

If Jinkyung’s face, winking and smiling, seemed more filled with lewdness than innocence, was it her eyes misinterpreting?

***

A few days later, Seojin began to feel uncomfortable stares after coming home from work.

“You’re back?”

As Seojin opened the door and entered, Haji ran out to greet him with a bright smile.

“Why did you leave earlier when I said we should go home together?”

“I finished earlier.”

Seojin raised an eyebrow. He had contacted her at 2 PM to go together.

“I showed off my skills after a long time.”

Haji looked proud as the savory smell of rice wafted from the living room.

“Do you want to change and eat?”

“No, I’ll eat right away.”

Seojin headed straight to the living room, as if fulfilling her wish.

Looking at the dining table, Seojin’s brow furrowed slightly.

“The menu is unique.”

“They say it’s in season.”

“Oysters?”

“…… Except oysters.”

Haji stammered momentarily but soon smiled. Watching her, Seojin’s mouth curled up slightly.

Eel, oysters, abalone, chives……

“Aren’t you eating?”

“I’ll enjoy it.”

The suspicious meal began. Haji’s eyes sparkled more each time Seojin picked up a side dish.

“Haji.”

“Yes?”

“Why aren’t you eating?”

Realizing she hadn’t picked up her spoon once, Haji quickly put rice in her mouth, startled.

“I guess I’m full watching you enjoy it.”

It was clear she was saying something she didn’t mean while avoiding his gaze.

“Still, you should be full. We each have our own stomachs, after all.”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t you think?”

“Yes……?”

Focused on her goal, Haji nodded in agreement without really hearing Seojin’s words.

***

Thud, as Seojin came out of the bathroom, Haji emerged with a cup.

“All done showering?”

“What’s that?”

Haji promptly held out the cup.

“Try it.”

Seojin frowned at the smell wafting from the cup she brought over.

“It might smell a bit, but it’s good for you. Hmm?”

“What is it?”

“…… It’s juice.”

Haji hesitated, unsure whether to say more, as Seojin questioned her. Her face showed she was thinking whether she should say it.

“Give it.”

“Huh?”

Seojin took the cup from Haji’s hand and downed it in one go.

Oh, seeing that, Haji covered her mouth and squinted. She knew the smell was bad for drinking it all at once.

“You drink it well.”

“You gave it to me. Didn’t you give it for me to drink?”

“…… It’s good for you. Don’t worry!”

With her last words, Haji ran to the living room. Watching her retreating figure, Seojin wiped his mouth.

“I know what you’re thinking.”

But this is quite bitter.